Yes, it’s 20 years old and after 10 years of driving it my old banger’s falling to bits. For about a year or so, it “squeaks” when I first turn the engine. I’m your typical girl and have no idea what’s under the hood, and a friend reckons it’s the fan belt that’s going.

And now for the past couple of months the car’s becoming difficult to start. Even I know that’s the starter motor going, because the car runs fine once it gets going. And it’s getting progressively worse so I know it’ll only be a matter of time before it just doesn’t start at all.

Also one of the back windows doesn’t work anymore and the driver’s side window opens on a whim. The heating only goes to full blast and no longer works on any other setting but high. And the radio no longer works so I play nothing but CDs.

But hey, that’s been my old bird for the past 10 years. No major problems until the clutch cable snapped last Christmas (remember that). The brake pads needed replacing during an MOT and the windshield wipers decided to give up on a day it started to rain and I had to hang my head out the window (that didn’t work properly) to get to the garage so I could get new ones.

But it’s a Nissan and it’s been a strong old bird. I dug out my log book and I read the date that I purchased it was 28th July 2000. So it’s basically 10 years to the day since I first bought it.

I’ll have to make sure and work my arse off in Manchester and see if I can’t get an old runaround to last a year or so until I can save up for a decent car – I’ve always fancied a Honda CR-V. My car was supposed to go for its MOT after I got back from Manchester but I don’t need a genius to tell me that it won’t see me through another winter unless I chuck money at it and I know when to stop throwing good money after bad. At least the guys at the garage can stop pointing and laughing when they see me coming.

*Sniff*. I’m feeling a bit teary-eyed at the moment. I’m going to have a quiet moment looking out the window at the car then I’m going to get ready for my 5.30pm. *Sniff*

RIP Old Bird.